Truss.



PATENTED JAN. 2, 1906.

M. B. SMYTH.

TRUSS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 14, 1905.

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Inventor Attorneys MILTON B. SMYTH, OF HOLTON, KANSAS.

TRUSS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 2, 1906.

Application filed August 14, 1905- Serial No, 274.129.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MILTON B. SMYTH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Holton, in the county of Jackson and State of Kansas, have invented a new and useful Truss, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to trusses for the treatment of inguinal hernia, and has for its principal object to improve and simplify the construction of the truss and to arrange for pressure in the proper direction without excessive tightening of the waistbands or similar supports.

A further object of the invention is to simplify and cheapen the construction of the truss-brace and to render the same more elastic and lighter than is usual in devices of this class.

With these and other objects in view, as will more fully hereinafter appear, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawin s, and particularly pointed out in the appen ed claims, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportions, size, and minor details of the structure may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view looking from the rear of a truss constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of a portion of the same, illustrating principally the pad-support and the waistband connec tion. Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the device on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

The present invention seeks principally to improve and simplify and overcome certain objections found in trusses of the general type shown in Letters Patent No. 715,701, issued to me on December 9, 1902.

The brace 10 is formed of spring-wire bent to conform to the shape of the body and of such length as to extend around rather more than half of the body. At the front end of the brace the wire is bent upwardly and thence into parallel relation with the front portion of the brace 10 to form a bar 11, which, in connection with the adjacent portion of the brace, formsa support for the pad 12. The pad is confined in place by a clamping member 13, having recesses for the reception of the wire 10 and bar 11, and through the clamp extends a screw 14, which may be loosened to permit adjustment of the pad for the full length of the bar 11. At the end of the bar 11 the wire is bent upward to form an arm 15, at the upper end of which is a strapsecuring member, which in the present instance takes the form of a stud 16, that may be fitted in any one of a number of openings 17, formed in a waiststrap 18, the rear end of which is secured to the end loop 19 of the brace 10.

In the construction shown in the Letters Patent hereinbefore referred to the brace is provided with an upwardly-extending bar at a point beyond the padthat is to say, at a point between the pad and the median line of the front portion of the bodyand in that case, as well as in the present case, the arm serves to prevent any upward movement of the pad and at the same time assists the brace in exerting pressure in the proper direction on said pad. It has been found by experience, however, that better results may be obtained by placing the arm at the opposite side of the padthat is to say, between the edge of the pad and that side of the body around which the brace passesso that the two connections leading from the opposite sides of the bodyone the strip and the other the braceare connected at a point to one side of the pad, and the latter is carried by a support which extends from this point of connection toward the median line of the front of the body. A brace constructed in this manner is much cheaper than the other, and at the same time it is found that by having both support connections at the same side of the pad the danger of displacement of the pad when the patient assumes a stooping position is materially lessened.

At the rear of the brace the wire is bent to form an open loop 20, designed to press on the sacrum, and this loop is preferably covered by leather or similar material in order that when engaged with the pad there will be less danger of slipping. The pressure exerted on the sacrum is by the horizontal bar of the loop, and this bar tends to remain in the position to which it is adjusted while allowing the side bars of the loop to spread or contract, materially adding to the elasticity of the brace and at the same time reducing liability of displacement when the patient is stopping or practicing athletic exercises. With a solid loop the pad in slipping in one direction or the-other would tend to move the whole brace, and thus displace the pad but with an open loop the single bar pressing against the body will tend to remain in place, while the side bars are free to yield to follow all movements of the body. 7

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is v 1. The combination in a truss, of a brace, the forward end of which is bent to form a pad-supporting bar in parallel relation with the front of the brace, and thence is bent upward to form a waist-strap connection distant from the forward end of the brace.

2. The combination in a truss, of a brace member arranged to extend around one side and a portion of the rear of the body, the front of the brace being bent into parallel relation with itself to form a pair of pad-supporting members, and being thence bent upward and provided with a strap connection at a point above the pad-support, and distant from the forward end of the brace.

3. The combination in a truss, of a brace formed of spring-wire designed to encircle one side and a portion of the rear of the body, the rear of said brace being bent to form an open loop, the side members of which are disconnected or spaced in the plane of the brace proper and are free to spread and yield to the movements of the body, and a covering 6X tending over said loop.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afliXed my signature in the presence'of two witnesses.

MILTON B. SMYTH.

Witnesses:

W. W. N AYLOR, C. E. PLATZ. 

